Poppies
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Whether seen as fields of colour or in the delicate translucent beauty of a single papery-petalled bloom backlit, poppies are flowers that have a real power to enchant. They’re so simple, yet so beautiful, and in their fancier forms they’re flamboyant too.
For me, three memories come to mind when I think of poppies. The first, of course, is Anzac Day and all those red paper poppies — far better to have the real thing, P. rhoeas;
second is the memory of the first time I grew Oriental Poppy hybrids, was so impressed by their large blooms, then so disappointed by the tiny flowers of the seed I saved; third, and most vividly etched, is a morning in November on which I visited the Selwyn River bed, not expecting much, to find it smothered in orange California Poppies and blue Viper’s Bugloss.
But poppies aren’t just those showy flowers you see massed in gardens or growing wild, turning grey riverbeds into an orange blaze. The family includes a wealth of annuals and perennials along with a few subshrubs. Most are so instantly recognisable that we use the term ‘poppy-like flower’ to describe the blooms of other plants. And, apart from a few exceptions like the plume poppies (Macleaya), most of the family lives up to the popular conception of what a poppy should be like. They’re indispensable in modern gardens, where a well-selected range will bear flowers for much of the year.
The true poppies belong to the genus Papaver, hence the name of the family as a whole is the Papaveraceae. The family of composed of four subfamilies, each of which contains several closely related genera.
Several other genera, most notably Meconopsis, Romneya, Stylomecon and Argemone, closely resemble Papaver and are grouped with it. These, the most poppy-like poppies, belong to the subfamily Papaveroideae. The other subfamilies are Chelidonioideae, which includes Eomecon, Glaucium, Macleaya and Sanguinaria; Eschscholzioideae, which includes the California poppies (genus Eschscholzia) that colour our countryside so vividly; and Platystemonoideae, the only well know genus in which is its namesake, Platystemon or cream cups.
The poppy family is mainly found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the sub-arctic regions. By venturing into South America, two genera, Argemone and Bocconia, have extended the family’s range southwards from western North America, an area where the Papaveraceae is strongly represented.
While true species are often cultivated, the plants we see most often in gardens are cultivars or hybrids. Many of the fancier seedling strains look quite unlike the species from which they were developed. Iceland Poppies are a case in point. They are, in fact, not true cultivars of Iceland Poppy (P. nudicaule), but hybrids between that species and its close relatives, such as P. alboroseum, P. involucratum, P. lapponicum and P. radicatum.
Poppies in the wild are often colonisers of waste land or areas with poor soils. They’re the kind of plants that spring up after forest fires or when a long drought breaks. These annual or short-lived perennials flower in a blaze of glory, set seed then either die or enter dormancy. This quick life cycle makes them ideal for developing as bedding plants.
Longer-lived species take more time to reach flowering age and tend to be found in areas with better soil and wetter climates. The Meconopsis genus is an obvious example. These Asian poppies sometimes die after flowering but may take two or more seasons from seed before they bloom. They can do that in the moist Himalayan woodlands but couldn’t in drought-prone California.
Climatic conditions dictate much about a plants growth habit and appearance. The Snow Poppy (Eomecon chionantha) and the Prickly Poppy (Argemone munita) are both white flowered members of the poppy family — anyone can see that from their similar flowers — but in just about every other respect they couldn’t be more different. The Snow Poppy grows in damp, shaded woodlands in China and prefers humus-rich moist soils, while the Prickly Poppy grows in the sun-baked, wind-blown dry scrub and chaparral of southwestern North America. Little wonder then that the Snow Poppy is reliably perennial while the Prickly Poppy sets seed in its first year and is only nominally perennial; it’s survival abilities depending on the climate. The Snow Poppy has large, lush, bright green leaves, while the Prickly Poppy has tough, woody
stems, is the blue-grey colour typical of dry-country plants and is covered in spines to ward off browsers.
The few shrubby species come mainly from dry climates, but occur in areas where water is more readily available. The California Tree Poppy (Romneya coulteri) is the best known example. It is found to the southeast of Los Angeles and while it grows well enough in sun-baked rocky areas, it’s always at its best in valleys or gullies to which the last reserves of rainwater drain.
So, as with all plants, understanding the climate in which they occur naturally is an important aspect of success with poppies. Because they’re such a widely varied lot, there are poppies for almost every location. Likewise, that variability makes it difficult to give a general guide to cultivation, so instead I’ll detail a few of the more readily available and
spectacular genera.
Notable poppies
Argemone
As already mentioned, the prickly poppies are a tough lot that are generally found in harsh, sunny and dry environments. They may be annual, biennial or perennial, but usually become rather rank with age and are therefore treated as annuals.
The Mexican Poppy (Argemone mexicana) is the best-known species and while widely regarded as a weed, it certainly produces its bright yellow flowers over a long season. Use it
carefully because it self-sows with abandon.
The Chicalote or Crested Poppy (A. platyceras) is altogether more refined and a better behaved, yet more robust plant. It grows to a metre or so high and has white flowers, up to 15cm wide, occasionally flushed with yellow and stamens that are yellow to lavender.
Chelidonium
This genus has but one species, the Greater Celandine (C. majus), a rather buttercup-like perennial found from western Europe to Asia. It occurs primarily in damp shaded places and has a long history as a medicinal herb in both the West and China. Its orange sap, the part most often used, definitely has some potent components. Taken internally, Greater Celandine is very poisonous and is possibly too potent even for prolonged external use.
While few gardeners would chose to grow the simple yellow single-flowered species, the double-flowered form, ‘Flore Pleno’ has far more appeal and helps to brighten a dark corner right through from mid-spring to mid-autumn. As a bonus, it usually reproduces true to type from seed.
Incidentally, the Greater Celandine is also known as the Swallow Wort because of an ancient story that said it came into flower with the return of the migrating swallows and died with their departure in autumn. It must be an ancient belief because the name Chelidonium
was used by Dioscoridis and Chelidon is the Greek word for swallow.
Eomecon
The Snow Poppy (E. chionantha) has already been described to some extent. It is the sole member of the genus and easily grown in moist shaded areas with humus-rich soil. Its flowering stems are around 40cm tall, developing in spring and summer and bearing 2.5–5cm wide, pure white flowers. The Snow Poppy is a beautiful plant that has one failing: vigorous stolons that can spread long distances. It’s best grown where it can be contained. As with other members of the poppy family, the roots ooze a latex-like sap when cut. In this case it’s orange red.
Eschscholzia
As soon as the first warm days of spring arrive, and year-round in mild areas, the brilliant yellow, orange and gold shades of the California Poppy (E. californica) begin to colour the countryside. By early November they’re carpeting large areas. California Poppy is often listed as an annual, but in mild areas it can be a biennial or short-lived perennial. It also behaves this way in its native California.
But Eschscholzia has more to offer than just a blaze of orange. The California Poppy now comes in a range of colours and flower forms that can be bought ready-grown in seedling trays or as seed. In addition, there are other species, such as Frying Pans (E. lobbii), a small annual with tufted leaves and bright yellow flowers that open flat; and the Tufted Californian Poppy (E. caespitosa), an annual with a tuft of small basal leaves and yellow flowers on wiry stems up to 20cm tall.
Glaucium
In recent years the common Horned Poppy (G. flavum) has been more widely cultivated in gardens. Somewhat reminiscent of the Prickly Poppy but without the prickles, this species is found from Britain to the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. It’s not the only species in the genus, there are 20 or so, but it’s the only one that’s at all common. Sometimes called the Yellow Horned Poppy, its flowers range in colour from pale yellow to deep orange, sometimes with deeper basal blotching. Long, slender seed pods follow the flowers. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial and grows to around 60cm tall, flowering from summer to autumn. In ancient times it had herbal uses but is now grown as an ornamental only. Horned Poppy grows in any well-drained, moderately fertile soil in sun.
Other species, such as the very pretty red and black-flowered G. grandiflorum and the orange-flowered annual G. corniculatum are very rarely grown and seldom available even from specialist seed suppliers.
Hylomecon
While not widely available, this little plant, the Forest Poppy, is worth mentioning and seeking out because it’s so distinctive and charming. With deep green, serrated, pinnate leaves and wide-open, bright yellow flowers held just above the foliage, it often looks more like a buttercup than a poppy.
It prefers dappled shade and moist woodland conditions. But while it is very hardy and easy to grow, the greatest difficulty is in finding the plant in the first place. Even specialist perennial nurseries very rarely stock it, so you may have to find a supplier of seed.
Macleaya
The Plume Poppies are among the largest, fastest and most rampant growers the poppy family has to offer. What’s more, they really look quite unlike the common idea of a poppy. Although masquerading under a variety of synonyms, there are really only two species: M. cordata and M. microcarpa. They are very similar to one another and sometimes spontaneously hybridise. Both are herbaceous perennials that die back completely over winter and grow so quickly that by early autumn they can be over 2.4m tall. The foliage is roughly heart-shaped, though deeply lobed, and is a deep greyish-green. The flowers are upright panicles of tiny cream to pale pink blooms that develop at the stem tips in summer and autumn. Macleaya is yet another poppy genus that exudes an orange sap. In this case a very strong one that stains clothing and which apparently has antiseptic properties.
Although Asian, the plants are named after a former Colonial Secretary of New South Wales: Alexander Macleay (1767–1848).
Macleaya may be raised from seed but the results are variable. It’s best to either remove rooted suckers, which are frequently very numerous, or strike early summer cuttings.
Use Macleaya where its height is an advantage, say at the back of a border or the end of pathway, but avoid at all costs planting it where it can smother less vigorous plants — because it will.
Meconopsis
Best known as the home of the magnificent Himalayan blue poppies, Meconopsis is really quite a widely varied genus. Nevertheless, they are all very poppy-like and the uninitiated would probably lump them in with the true poppies of the genus Papaver.
Most Meconopsis prefer cool, moist soil and fairly humid conditions. They are usually treated as woodland plants but will grow in sunny areas provided they’re shaded from the hottest summer sun and strong winds and they receive adequate winter chilling. Nevertheless, they definitely look best planted with primulas, hostas and other woodlanders.
There are around 45 species in the genus. Some, like the Welsh Poppy (M. cambrica), are easy to grow and will self-sow, but the more desirable blue-flowered species are often difficult to cultivate. The best known of these are M. betonicifolia and M. grandis
. They need a neutral to slightly acid soil with plenty of humus and ample moisture in summer. They resent drying out at any time, though they certainly don’t like being waterlogged either.
Meconopsis are usually raised from seed sown in late winter and provided this is fresh it germinates well. Keeping the young seedlings alive can be tricky, though provided they get through the first month or so and are kept fed with liquid fertiliser, they grow quite quickly and can be planted out in spring or early summer.
Sometimes the plants are monocarpic (die after flowering), but in suitable conditions even the moody M. betonicifolia is reasonably reliably perennial.
Papaver
The true poppies comprise some 50 species of annuals, biennials and perennials found in many temperate parts of the world, including as close to home as Australia (P. aculeatum).
Despite large variations in size, most of them are very similar to one another, having one flower per stem with 4, 5 or 6 petals, followed by a cup-shaped seed capsule brim full with tiny black seeds.
Most poppies thrive in sunny positions and are very undemanding plants. These days the greatest problem with growing them is keeping them. Because everyone knows that opium and morphine are derived from the Opium Poppy (P. somniferum), every idiot drug user seems to think that any poppy is a quick way to get high. They’re wrong of course, but that doesn’t help gardeners who would like to grow Oriental Poppies (P. orientale) because the large seed pods are just too tempting a target. Apart from growing them away from general view, all I can suggest is an almost religious zeal for dead-heading the flowers. Unfortunately, it’s not only the large poppies that are targeted. The seeds of the Corn or Flanders Poppy (P. rhoeas) are mildly sedating, so even they have been known to disappear.
Whether you buy punnets of seedlings or raise your own, provided you give them a sunny, well-drained position, poppies should provide months of colour.
Platystemon
Cream Cups is an interesting Californian genus of just one extremely variable annual species, P. californicus. The common form has narrow, deep grey-green leaves covered with fine hairs and soft butter yellow flowers held well above the foliage on wiry stems. Found over much of the southern half of western North America below 1500m altitude in a variety of soil types, it flowers from late winter to early summer.
Cream Cups is an easy going plant that is best left to grow where it may rather than being used as part of a formal bedding scheme. Scatter the seed so though it will pop up in any convenient crevice. Its not a spectacular plant but has that lightness of being most often called charming.
Romneya
The only shrubby poppy to be extensively cultivated, the California Tree Poppy (R. coulteri) is not really a tree or even a true shrub but instead a large, rather woody perennial. It’s a very impressive plant with grey-green foliage and large, white, papery flowers with a central boss of golden stamens.
It thrives in almost any well-drained soil in full sun and is hardy in all but the coldest areas. Often it grows only too well and suckers may pop up in the most unlikely places. Once established Romneya resents soil disturbance, so just use a sharp spade to remove the suckers as they appear rather than trying to divide up or otherwise reduce the size of the plant.
Incidentally, the suckers are rarely of much use for producing new plants unless you find some that are well rooted. Romneya is propagated by root cuttings, which are not always easy to strike, so it’s usually best to buy vigorous ready-grown plants.
Sanguinaria
Along with Macleaya, this is probably the most unpoppy-like of the poppy genera. The Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is the sole species in the genus. It’s a rhizomatous perennial found in North America, both the USA and Canada, east of a line from Oklahoma to North Dakota. Thought of as mainly a woodland plant, it is also found growing in rocky areas.
In gardens it is best given woodland conditions and prefers a fairly cool climate. Completely dormant in winter, in spring it produces pale grey-green basal leaves that enfold the flower bud. The flowers, one per leaf stem, are pure white and open before the leaves fully expand. The double-flowered form, ‘Plena’ is very showy.
The name Bloodroot comes from the reddish brown sap that oozes from the roots when they are cut.
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With Iceland Poppies in the winter, Corn Poppies in spring, Shirley Poppies in summer and Oriental Poppies in the autumn, your garden need never be without colour. Those papery flowers may look delicate but they belong to some of the toughest, most adaptable plants there are. And they’re so easy to grow.
Copyright Geoff Bryant
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